Tag Archives: music

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Playlist

When listening to soundtracks, I frequently like to listen to the tracks chronologically (i.e. in the order they were used in the film). So I thought I’d share that playlist-like order for “Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2“. I’ve also tried to provide spoiler-free alternate titles for the scenes that go with song. Enjoy! “Brandy You’re a Fine Girl” – Looking Glass Prologue “Mr. Blue Sky” – Electric Light Orchestra Defending the batteries “Lake Shore Drive” – Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah Leaving the Sovereign “The Chain” – Fleetwood Mac Leaving with Ego “Southern Nights” – Glen Campbell Rocket on the prowl “My Sweet Lord” – George Harrison Ego’s planet “Come a Little Bit Closer” – Jay and the Americans Yondu’s escape “Bring it On Home to Me” – Sam Cooke This unspoken thing between us “Brandy You’re a Fine Girl” (Reprise) Ego consoles Peter “Wham Bang Shang-A-Lang” … Continue reading →

Swingin’ Bolero

The other night I was listening to (one of) my new favorite Internet streaming stations (KCEA 89.1 FM) when I heard a song that was hauntingly familiar. Just before it ended, I realized it was a big band arrangement of Maurice Ravel’s Bolero (a song that I’ve had great love for ever since I first saw the stage show Blast!). Agog, I quickly ran some Google searches to locate the song. I started with “big band adaptation of ravel”. The third hit (Swing, Swing, Swing: The Life & Times of Benny Goodman from books.google.com) contained the following quote: “Fletcher’s ambitious, extremely imaginative adaptation of Ravel’s Bolero”. So I moved on to a search for “Fletcher Henderson bolero” which confirmed that it was Benny Goodman’s orchestra playing the track I heard (which, given Henderson and Goodman’s many collaborations should hardly have been surprising). Lastly, I searched YouTube to locate a recording … Continue reading →

The Christmas Music Of Mannheim Steamroller – OCPAC

Video Intro/Announcement by Chip Davis saying due to recent neck surgery he can’t play for a while (and in which he stomps fake snow off of his pristine white sneakers) Act 1: Hallelujah Band Introductions by Ron Cooley Feliz Navidad Deck The Halls We Three Kings Catching Snowflakes On Your Tongue Messengers Of Christmas Away In A Manager Faeries Good King Wenceslas White Christmas Act 2 – This is where the fun really started – the video screen stayed lowered and they played a Renaissance Christmas feast on the upper portion while you could see the band through the bottom half of the scrim: Gagliarda In Dulci Jublio Wassail, Wassail (which is a hot mulled cider) Carol Of The Birds (projected images of large flocks of birds) I Saw Three Ships Video cast member shouts out, “Hey Chip! How about something we can dance to?!” God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen … Continue reading →

The Alley Cats Christmas Show – Curtis Theatre, Brea, CA

Absolutely hilarious! With some very poignant melodies and humbling harmonies (especially the Luther Vandross arrangement of O Come All Ye Faithful with the Alley Cats Litterbox Choir), The Alley Cats are in rare form as always (they ARE America’s premier doo-woo group), and Toby, Juan, Mando, and Royce have a great time singing (Let It Snow * Bohemian Rgapsody – o mama mia let it snow), dancing (CHINESE FIRE DRILL!! and OMG Single Ladies) and heckling each other for two solid hours of entertainment. Oh yeah, and I got to stand on stage and sing “Five golden rings” while being decorated as a Christmas tree. 😀

Jekyll and Hyde and Why I’m Pathetic

Jekyll and Hyde is a fascinating musical adaptation of the classic Robert Louis Stevenson novel featuring the schizophrenic, “chemical”-addicted Victorian doctor trying to destroy the “Duality of Man”. I don’t remember ever reading Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but somehow the concept has always been present in popular culture. Anyone know why? I mean it can’t just be The Pagemaster (featuring Leonard Nimoy as Jekyll and Hyde), can it? Anyways. T. Eric Hart did a fascinating job as the aforementioned Doctor, but the real star of the show is the music. Frank Wildhorn is an incredible composer. His music has this indelible movie-soundtrack quality that makes it so much fun to listen to. Yesterday at my singing lesson, I briefly talked with my vocal coach about the upcoming Sweeney Todd adaptation and I voiced my opinion how in the beginning of the trailer, Johnny Depp sounds a LOT like Jack … Continue reading →